Hmong: Call for the Immediate Cessation of Violence against Hmong

Call for the Immediate Cessation of Violence against Hmong ChaoFa Indigenous People and the total withdraw of all Laotian and Vietnamese Troops from Hmong ChaoFa Territories in Central Laos

The following is a press release by the Hmong ChaoFa State of Central Laos

FOR IMMEDIATELY RELEASE4 November 2008

As of October 26 to November 3, 2008, two Laotian Battalions consisted of Lao and Vietnamese troops launched attacks with 60mm, 89mm and 12.7mm and invaded Hmong ChaoFa territories in the highland areas of Phu Bia. Early Reporting indicated that these attacks caused some deaths and injuries, the number is yet known. Also, these two battalions are occupying Hmong food resources and pathway.

Intelligence information indicated that Choummaly Sayasone, President of the Lao PDR and Bouasone Bouphavanh, Prime Minister of Lao PDR and other high level Laotian officials held high level secret meeting in Moung Cha, Saisomboun province on October 18, 2008 on the strategic operations and planning on how best to carry on these attacks and the invasion with the purpose of total extermination of the Hmong ChaoFa in Phu Bia, Xiengkhouang.

The Hmong ChaoFa State of Central Laos calls for –(a) An immediate cessation of violence and the withdraw of all Laotian and Vietnamese troops from it territories;

(b) International access into the forbidden zone of Phu Bia in Central Laos to provide humanitarian assistance;

(c) Lao PDR to comply by international humanitarian rules and treaties in which it is a party to;

(d) Lao PDR to honor all recommendations by the United Nations Committee of the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and its accompanying letters in March 2005 and August 2006.

(e) Call for an international mediation for a peaceful solution of the Hmong – Lao conflict since 1975.